REPORT ON BASIC COMPUTER

SKILLS TRAINING/ LITERACY

PROGRAMME FOR CIVIL

SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS

(CSO’S)

Written by:

Abraham Gborkie

Kailie

Project Officer,

Advocacy

Initiative for

Development –

AID-Sierra Leone

ADVOCACY INITIATIVE FOR DEVELOPMENT (AID –SIERRA LEONE)

1.0 Introduction

Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s) are grass root institutions with usually low capacities

striving to compliment governments’ efforts in national development at community levels.

In this post war era of Sierra Leone’s development phase, so many programmes have been

designed and implemented with the aim of building the capacity of Civil Society

Organizations in different area of development to enhance effectiveness in their operations.

Computer literacy or skills training programme is one of such opportunities; it is a capacity

building strategy that empowers individuals or institutions to be knowledgeable in the use

of computer applications. In other words, a person who knows how to use the machine to

complete any task is a computer literate. Computer literate often connotes little more than

the ability to use several very specific applications (usually Microsoft Word, Microsoft Exel,

Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Outlook) for certain very well-defined simple

tasks, largely by rote. Multi-lateral institutions are strongly advocating the building of

knowledge societies where the power of information and communication helps people access

the knowledge they need to improve their daily lives and achieve their full potential.

Increasingly, the concept of information literacy is considered as crucially important to

enable people to deal with the challenge of making good use

of information and communication technology. Indeed,

governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental

organizations, academia, civil society and the private sector

have all come to the conclusion that computers, the Internet,

and hand-held wireless devices are driving today profound

changes in the way pictures, voice, and information are

being created, transmitted, accessed and stored. But they also conclude that learning

computer and media technologies are not enough if nations, institutions and individuals are

to reap the full benefits of the global knowledge societies. Computer literacy can empower

people in all walks of life to seek, evaluate, use and create information effectively to achieve

their personal, social, occupational and educational goals”. In the digital age, what

computer literacy means is that understanding technologies is not enough. What everyone

must also do is learn how to utilize those incredibly diverse and powerful technologies

efficiently and effectively to search for, retrieve, organize, analyze, evaluate information and

then use it for specific decision-making and problem-solving ends.

The intervention of AID Sierra Leone in computer literacy/skills training programme for

civil society organizations is an indication of its response and commitment to globalization.

1.2 Objectives

The main aim or goal of the computer literacy programme is to capacitate Civil Society

Organizations (CSO’s) in the three basic Microsoft office software applications to enhance

administrative or operational effectiveness in their various organizations for better

networking or collaborations.

1.3 Outcome of the programme

The computer literacy programme organized by the Advocacy Initiative for Development

(AID–Sierra Leone) with funding support from Develop Africa (DA), took place at the

Sulisha Institute of Management and Computer studies at Regent Road. It was a week

programme, starting from the 26th to 30th March 2012 (Monday to Friday). The training

process was incredible and interesting, as the Sulisha institution provided the environment/

space, Tutors and training manual/ curriculum that covers all the three programmes

(Windows, Microsoft word and Microsoft excel) and was distributed to each participant

before the start of the process. These are the three basic Microsoft office applications

required by every employee to understand and carry out their tasks no matter the

individual’s designation. The programme targeted seven (7) Civil Society Organizations

(CSO’s) with very low capacities in terms of staff number and technical strength, which

includes representatives from Advocacy Initiative for Development (AID – Sierra Leone),

Sierra Leone Union for Disability Issues (SLUDI), Peace- Links Sierra Leone, Youth Action

International (YAI), FAKS Humanitarian Relief Organization and the Door of Hope.

Content of the computer literacy training package for the CSO’s includes:

1.3.1 Windows/ DOS

Starting a computer may be a very tricky thing to one who has never seen or touch one.

Using the mouse, managing various windows, alternating between the use of keyboard and

mouse, minimizing windows, opening and closing files, etc. can be daunting tasks for the

uninitiated ones. However, familiarization with the parts and functions of the computer was

critical to the capacity building process at the initial stage. Below is the summary of the

main issues dealt with in the training manual under this topic:

• Definition of the word information technology

• Definition of a computer

• Key words related to the definition of a computer.

• Types of computers

• Definition of a computer system and their types.

• Knowledge about Computer generations

• Some uses of computers

• Advantages & Disadvantages of using a computer

• Elements of computer

• Relationship between Hard ware and Soft ware

• Detail knowledge about the Central Processing Unit (CPU) or Processor

• Direct Input devices (Keyboard) and functions of the various keys.

• Indirect input devices ( Mouse)

• Output devices (e.g. Monitors, printers etc.)

• About printers and their types

• Computer output on microfilms (COM)

• Knowledge about disk drives

• Storage devices and their types

• Rules of handling diskette

• The anatomy of the computer virus

• The cause, effects, preventive measures and types of computer virus

• Application of system soft ware

• Functions of the operating system

• How data and programs are represented in the computer

• Knowledge about computer language

• Booting a computer from the Hard and Floppy disk

• How to open and save a file in editor screen

• How to create a document in editor screen

• How to exit from editor screen

• Copy and Paste option

• Cut and Paste option

• How to Copy a file from one drive to another

1.3.2 Microsoft word

This is the most basic of all skills. It involves typing basically, but when using computers it

deviates a little from the common typewriter. There is the enter key replacing the career

movement and there are commands (simple ones) for paragraph, indent, spacing and so on.

The best of word processing is that you can modify with ease any part of the text you

entered. The word processing is the minimum one should know because it will be used in

each and every application of computers. Below is the summary of the practical issues dealt

with regards Microsoft word:

• Definition of Microsoft word

• Three ways in starting Microsoft word

• Exploring the word screen environment

• Understanding some unique features in Microsoft word

• How to work with Microsoft word (set a working folder; create a new document,

opening an existing document, insertion of text, save your document, saving your

document with a new name etc.)

• Inserting symbols and special character

• Inserting the date and time functions

• Adding bullets and Numbering

• How to insert Paragraph spacing

• How to align text

• How to cut & paste/ Drag & drop a document

• How to close your document

• How to exit Microsoft word

• How to apply keyboard short cut

• How to change ( e.g. Upper & Lower cases)

• How to do line spacing ( e.g. Double line or single line spacing )

• How to insert pictures

• How to insert Header & Footer

• How to divide the document into column

• How to insert tables

1.3.3 Microsoft excel

One will also need to use a spreadsheet of excel sheet for computing and chalking out

financial plans. This is a must in any presentation and knowing the basics on how to use

and read a spreadsheet will be extremely helpful to any young executive. As with others,

this too will require a lot of hands-on practice and a little theory to master. Below is the

summary of the main issues dealt with in the training manual during the process:

• Introduction to MS excel ( Spread sheet)

• How to add a work sheet

• How to hide and unhide workbook & worksheet

• How to group a sheet

• How to ungroup a sheet

• Understanding the functions of the worksheet special keys

• How to select cell rows & columns

• How to protect work book or work sheet

• How to use formula operators

• Understanding errors that affect a cell

• How to centralize labels

• How to add comment to a cell

• How to enter data in a spread sheet

• How to work with charts

• Procedures to create a chart

• Understanding the types of chart and their functions

• How to work with data base entries

• How to manage the data base

• Introduction to MS Excel applications

• Understanding the advantage of using an electronic spreadsheet

On daily basis, Lunch was provided for participants including the Tutor. At the end of the

training, examinations were set up to assess the level of understanding of participants

about the three programmes. The result proved that participants understood the parts,

functions of the computer and the designed Microsoft office applications of the training

programme. The training process ended in a certification ceremony for all participants on

the last day that was done by a senior authority of the computer school. Transport refunds

were given to all participants after the certification process.

1.4 Conclusion

The one week computer literacy/ skills training programme organized by the Advocacy

Initiative for Development (AID–Sierra Leone) for seven Civil Society Organizations, with

funds from Develop Africa (DA) was a success story. This was a deliberate attempt to

contribute to national development and create opportunities for effective networking and

collaborations for Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s) in Sierra Leone.

1.5 Recommendations

• Expansion of the programme to other parts of the country to accommodate more civil

society organizations (CSO’s).

• Solicit support for more computer training programmes that will create opportunities

for more Civil Society Organizations in the country.

Certification Photo Gallery

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